Don't waste now, precious time
Severus idly trailed his fingers across the walls as he strode through the hospital wing. Robes, flaring dramatically behind him, and a scowl fixed permanently on his face. A medi-witch evaded his gaze and dodged into a perpendicular corridor to avoid crossing his path.
Severus withheld the sneer that threatened to cross his face. The young potions apprentice had developed something of a rather negative reputation amongst a select few of the medical profession. Something about how his bedside manner not being conductive l for the patients' recovery?
Severus could not care one whit what they thought. He was doing his job, nothing more, nothing less. As Master Robyn's apprentice, Severus was expected to record how the medical trials for the Sanare Nervos potion were going. He did not care about the patients' feelings unless they were related to the potion's efficacy.
Most of the staff understood that patient-care was not included in Severus' job description, and were content to leave him be. However, others, such as that annoying woman, March, detested his cold demeanour and were determined to improve it.
Speaking of the infernal witch.
Severus inwardly cursed the woman to hell and back as she stalked purposefully towards him; a file gripped firmly within her hand. "Right-o, sonny!" she called firmly with a fierce glare. "You've got a new patient to look over," she informed, and Severus raised an eyebrow in surprise.
It was rather late to receive a new patient. Some strings definitely must have been pulled for this to have happened, and Severus had to admit his curiosity had been piqued.
Seeing this, the woman glared even harder at Severus. "Now listen here! This lad's been in my care for the past year or so. He's been through a very tough time and does not need your scrutiny!"
Severus stared at the ceiling in exasperation and controlled his urge to scream at her. "All of these patients have had a gruelling experience, ma'am," he drawled in the politest tone he could manage, "Otherwise they would not be trialling the Sanare Nervos."
Healer March sneered at Severus and hurried off with an expectant glance towards the man. "Do keep up, sonny," she called condescendingly.
Severus gritted his teeth and acquiesced. "He's in a different ward at the moment but he will be transferred tonight."
"He's only nineteen," her voice was softer this time, and Severus' curiosity increased tenfold. The youngest participant they had was twenty-eight. For a nineteen-year-old to have suffered such nerve damage at such a young age... Well, it was quite remarkable. "And he's a werewolf," she added as an afterthought before glaring at him again. "Don't you dare hold that against him, though!"
Severus' blood ran cold. There weren't many nineteen-year-old werewolves in Britain. In fact, Severus knew of only one. Glancing up in shock, he met her eyes and she frowned confusedly at him.
Healer March ducked her head around a curtain and sighed softly to herself. "He's sleeping at the moment," she informed Severus tightly, "The poor mite never sleeps long though. He was in a coma for seven months and is reluctant to sleep most days now."
"Let me see him," Severus commanded agitatedly and she frowned even further at him.
"Of course not!" she hissed quietly, "Did you not just hear me! He's sleeping! I won't let you disturb him!"
Severus ran a hand through his hair and stared imploringly at her. "Let me see his file. Please!" he implored desperately, his onyx eyes wide with fear and hope. "Please! It can't be him."
Healer March was regarding him with something akin to worry now, and she took a startled step towards him. "You know that only Master Robyn can access prior medical history."
Severus huffed in annoyance. "Fine!" he snapped irritatedly, "At least tell me when he was admitted. Please," he said in a softer tone.
Healer March hesitated briefly, before flicking through the file to the correct page. "27th July 1978," she read from the file, and Severus closed his eyes in pain.
The witch watched as his face fell, and his entire being seemed to collapse in on itself. She had never seen the brooding, self-assured man like this before. "Sonny?" she questioned warily and placed a light hand on his shoulder. "Are you alright?"
Severus chuckled mirthlessly and angrily wiped at his eyes. "Please tell me his name," he commanded softly, and whilst the woman knew that she shouldn't, Severus seemed to be clinging onto the answer like a drowning man.
"Remus John Lupin," she stated softly and stared worriedly as Severus' blank mask crumbled to reveal a lonely, upset teenage boy. "Do you know him?" she asked tentatively, and Severus raised his onyx eyes, shining with so much raw emotion, and nodded.
"Yes," he gasped out, "Gods, I thought he was ignoring me," he whispered to himself, "I could live with that. If he hated me for all his days, I could honestly live with that! But I thought he was safe!" Healer March knew that Severus didn't mean to be saying these things to her, or out loud for that matter
So, making a decision, she gripped him tightly by the arm and pulled him into Remus' cubicle.
Seeing the sleeping male on the bed, Severus seemed to crumble even further. Shakily, he staggered towards him and knelt on the floor beside Remus - blindly fumbling for his hand and grasping it within his own as if it were his own salvation. He then pressed a chaste kiss to the underside of Remus' wrists, just as he had done all those months ago, and rested his head on Remus' hand with a small whimper.
A soft cough drew his attention away from Remus, and Severus stared at the healer with apathy. Uncaring about the display he just performed in front of her. "I'll leave the two of you alone for a moment," she said gently and placed something upon the bedside table before exiting.
It took Severus a moment to realise that the object she left behind was Remus' file. He grabbed it from the table and swiftly drank the words in. Fury erupted in his gut as each sentence drove him to new heights of anger.
Male Sanae ritual to remove werewolf curse
Unsuccessful removal of magic
Damage to radial and dorsal digital readial nerve
His Remus had suffered so much whilst he was absent. Who would even attempt the Male Sanae ritual to remove the werewolf curse? Did they not understand that to heal Remus of the werewolf they would have had to remove his magical core? What pathetic dunderhead would even attempt it?
Gripping Remus' hand tighter, Severus gritted his teeth and silently plotted the torture and death of the insipid idiots whoever thought about harming his love. He had been in a coma for seven months whilst the Medi-wizards attempted to heal the damage that had been done to his core.
Severus could only imagine the agony Remus had been through.
"Remus!" a chipper voice sing-songed from beyond the curtain, and a delighted young witch stepped into the cubicle, bearing a tray laden with food. Upon spotting Severus, however, her smile faded into shock. "I..." the witch faltered for a second before she beamed in happiness. "You must be Severus!" she cried enthusiastically, and placed the tray on the table with more grace than Severus originally thought she possessed.
Severus glanced at the witch in enquiry and she blushed. "Remus is always talking about you!" she gushed and fanned her face with her hand. "Oh! He'll be so happy you're here! He never gets any visitors. I told him that he should let me owl you so you knew where he was but he always refused. Said he wanted to contact you himself, but the nerve damage, you know?" she fired out rapidly but Severus was caught on the first sentence.
His red-rimmed eyes stared at her in confusion and she seemed to realise he was no longer listening. "He always talks about me?" he questioned quietly, and she nodded eagerly.
"Yes! He's always talking about how smart you are, how clever, and handsome!" she blushed a bit further at the last compliment but continued beaming nonetheless. "So how did you find him then? Remus wouldn't have been able to write you."
Severus glanced at her searchingly and seemed to find nothing threatening about her person. "I am Master Robyn's apprentice," he stated quietly. The witch frowned in confusion, before recognition lit her face.
"Oh! The nerve healing potion!" she exclaimed exuberantly. "I hadn't heard that Healer March's application was successful! I'm so happy for Remus. The potion sounds really promising!" Severus was rather taken aback at the speed at which the witch was speaking. "That's so romantic!" She gushed out and Severus raised an eyebrow in incredulity. The witch blushed further. "I mean it's so romantic that you're reunited through the thing that's going to heal him."
"I..." Severus was lost for words at the witch's train of thought, before he remembered her earlier words. "Remus told you I was handsome?" he said confusedly, whilst furiously squashing the hope that was rekindling in his chest. "Why would he say that?"
The witch giggled to herself and shook her head at Severus. "Why wouldn't he, silly! He's smitten with you, of course!" the witch laughed a bit more at Severus dumbfounded look before jolting in surprise. "Oh! I've got to dash. I need to give other patients their lunch. Bye!" she chirped before jogging from the cubicle.
Severus watched the witch leave in shock before turning back to the sleeping Remus. "You're smitten with me?" he repeated, a slow smile stretching his features.
Nothing could ruin this moment for him. This was the most elated he had felt in the past year, and he doubted anything could ever overcome this feeling. Kissing Remus last year was the best moment of his life, but it was overshadowed by the terrible events that followed. However, this proved there was emotion to the kiss. It was as if, to coin a muggle phrase, butterflies were swarming in his stomach.
But first, Severus needed to hear it from the werewolf's mouth.
Anticipation ravaged Severus' mind, but the smaller man would have to wake up sooner-or-later. Severus already knew he was an insomniac (which he wasn't at all pleased with), and the smell of beef hotpot that the witch brought in should hopefully have some effect on the sleeping werewolf.
Sure enough, ten or so minutes later, Remus began to stir.
Severus avidly watched every move Remus made and noted that the smaller-man was one of the people who awoke slowly and groggily. Severus usually woke instantly. The large yawn which stretched Remus' mouth open, caused a fond smile to appear on Severus' face. Remus truly was adorable.
Severus squeezed lightly on Remus' hand, and the werewolf immediately tensed. Slowly, Remus' head turned to face Severus, and those gorgeous green eyes widened in shock.
Severus smiled an even larger smile.
"Hello, Remus," he spoke silkily; delighted at the small shiver Remus had.
"Sev?" Remus' voice was hoarse and his green eyes bright with unshod tears. "You're here," he murmured in an awed voice. Severus chuckled lightly and nodded.
"Must you state the obvious, Remus?" he questioned amusedly, but it didn't have the effect Severus' intended. Instead of smiling, Remus grimaced and turned away from Severus.
Frowning, Severus stood (ignoring his protesting knees) and grasped Remus by the shoulders to forcibly look him in the eye. Despite the position, Remus tried his hardest to avoid Severus' gaze but Severus was having none of it. Gently, he placed one finger under Remus' chin and tilted it up.
"Please, don't look away from me, Remus," he commanded softly. Remus' frame shook lightly, but he met Severus' gaze. "What is wrong?"
Remus stared at Severus in shame. "I hurt you. I don't hate you" he whispered desperately. "I never hated you. I should have let you explain things instead of jumping to conclusions."
Severus smiled softly to himself. "I'm glad to hear it, Remus," he idly stroked a finger down Remus' cheek; smiling even wider when the other man leaned into the touch. "And I'm sorry for not telling you sooner. Then we could have avoided this entire mess, and you wouldn't have to be in this hospital bed." Severus' glanced down at Remus' face, "I'm so sorry, Remus."
"There's nothing to be sorry for, Sev," Remus' face was understandingly calm, "This would have happened whether or not we had that argument. The Marauders'," Remus' voice cracked slightly at the mention of his former friends, "They weren't very happy when they found out I was gay."
Severus stared at Remus in shock, before his eyes darkened with fury. "I could have been there to protect you," he swore lightly under his breath, "I could have cursed those bastards into oblivion and spared you all this pain."
"And what good would you do me in Azkaban?" Remus inquired lightly, before sighing softly. "Do not blame yourself for what happened, Sev." Remus narrowed his eyes in irritation. "I mean it, Sev. It's not your fault."
"Then whose is it?" Severus asked loudly and slightly-crazed.
"Theirs," Remus answered simply. "Sirius', James' and Peter's fault. It is their fault they couldn't handle the fact that I was in love," Remus lifted a hand to place atop of Severus' and he stared into onyx eyes without any fear.
Severus swallowed nervously.
Remus smiled gently and rubbed calming circles along Severus' hand. "I am in love, Severus," he declared, "And I'm in love with you."
Severus closed his eyes in bliss and released a harsh breath before a shaky smile stretched his face.
Severus stared at Remus intently. "Say it again," he commanded breathlessly, whilst pressing a brief kiss to Remus' neck. "I need to hear you say…"
Severus was interrupted by Remus' delighted laughter. "I'm in love with you, Severus! I'm absolutely irrevocably in love with you. I'd follow you to the ends of the earth. I love you. I love you. I love you!"
"Merlin yes," Severus groaned and captured Remus' lips with his own. Moments passed in silence, where the only sounds heard were heavy panting and pleasured moans.
Teeth clashed, and tongues sparred for dominance.
Green eyes were glowing with lust and want, and Severus could come undone from the sight alone. Burying his fingers into Remus' hair, Severus enjoyed the heady scent that was purely Remus and delighted in the sensation of having Remus in his arms.
Minutes passed and Severus paid them no heed until he pulled away and settled down beside the smaller man. Severus' long limbs quickly wrapped themselves around Remus' body, until Remus was fully ensconced within the other's arms.
"You do realise Mrs. Fields in the next bed over probably heard all that, right?" Remus asked in a mixture of amusement and embarrassment.
Severus snorted and pulled Remus closer to his chest. "The old biddy probably loved every minute of it," he declared, "Though I must admit, perhaps we should keep exhibitionism off the schedule for the future. It's not really my cup of tea," Severus bit Remus lightly on the ear, "I fear I'm rather possessive and I don't want anyone apart from me seeing to see you come undone."
Remus playfully swiped Severus' arm from where it was wrapped around his waist and huffed a soft laugh. Resting his head upon Remus' shoulder, Severus breathed a sigh of contentment. "I love you," Severus whispered softly.
Remus hummed lightly in response and settled himself more comfortably in Severus' arms.
They knew they would have to talk seriously about everything that had happened. Talk about allegiances, and friendships, and what the future held.
But… Not right now.
Now, it was time to heal.